Posted on 12/03/2005 9:25:49 PM PST by LouAvul
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A California congressional election featuring the dark-horse candidacy of border-control activist Jim Gilchrist has thrust the issue of illegal immigration to the political forefront.
Gilchrist became a lightning rod in the immigration debate by founding the local Minutemen volunteer border patrol and is a long-shot candidate in Tuesday's special election in one of California's most solidly Republican districts.
But political analysts say his presence on the ballot forced Republican Party favorite John Campbell and others to take a hard line on immigration -- or risk alienating voters frustrated over the issue.
Gilchrist, running as an American Independent Party candidate, drew 14 percent of the vote in the October 5 primary.
"Some of Gilchrist's vote was a protest vote. Voters sent a message that immigration was an important issue for them and they anticipate that the Republican Party will pay attention to it in the future," said Luis DeSipio, a political science professor at University of California, Irvine.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Thank you, fellow paleo...BTTT
http://www.jimgilchrist.com/
GILCHRIST HITS CAMPBELL’S “FLIP-FLOP” ON CALIFORNIA BORDER POLICE INITIATIVE
December 4, 2005
Lake Forest, CA — Minuteman Project founder and 48th Congressional District candidate Jim Gilchrist – who this weekend garnered the endorsement of the National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents 10,000 front-line U.S. Border Patrol agents and employees – today criticized opponent John Campbell for “backsliding” on his support of the California Border Police Initiative. Campbell in a recent media interview confirmed his discomfort and lack of commitment towards the Initiative he supposedly co-sponsors.
Campbell has “sold out all of the people who have donated money and who have ‘given their blood, sweat and tears’ to get this critical Initiative on the ballot,” stated Gilchrist.
“John Campbell should be ashamed of himself for reneging on his commitment to all those volunteers who have dedicated themselves to qualifying the California Border Police Initiative for the California ballot,” Gilchrist said. “Campbell, who has been pretending to be a co-sponsor of this initiative, pulled the rug out from under supporters when he announced, in a November 27 article in the Daily Pilot, that he hopes the border police force ‘never has to be used.’”
Campbell’s statement has caused a backlash among activists in the fight to stop illegal immigration and promote border security, who view the Initiative as an essential and urgently needed tool for beefing up law enforcement in the state.
“Every supporter of this initiative should ask the question, ‘what have we been fighting so hard for?’” said Barbara Coe, spokeswoman for the California Coalition for Immigration Reform and a long-time Orange County leader against illegal immigration.
Gilchrist noted that “those of us who are close to this issue have been aware for months that the California Border Police Initiative and Campbell for Congress campaign are managed by the same political consultant, Dave Gilliard, of the ‘big-dog’ – and very high-priced – Sacramento consulting firm of Gilliard, Blanning and Wysocki. It has become increasingly obvious that Gilliard set Campbell up as co-sponsor of this initiative for the sole purpose of ‘Johnny-come-lately’ candidate positioning.”
Continued Gilchrist, “Gilliard has intended all along merely to rehabilitate Campbell with voters who were justifiably upset with his sorry history of pro-illegal alien votes in the California State Legislature. Gilliard has attempted to cloak Campbell with an aura of credibility as ‘tough’ on border security and illegal immigration that he has never deserved on the merits. And now, from John Campbell’s own recent statements, we learn that, indeed, the ‘fool the voters’ Initiative will be set aside by Campbell after this special election for Congress is decided.”
“After his recent fundraising junket to Washington D.C., John Campbell has turned his back on the California Border Police Initiative and the hard work of its advocates. He is more clearly than ever revealed as a lackey to the Bush Administration’s pro-amnesty, open borders agenda. The ambitious politician who is John Campbell has revealed his true colors … again.”
“In the best tradition of John Kerry, Campbell now says that ‘I supported implementing the border police force before I opposed implementing the border police force.’ In fact, John Campbell is a worthy successor to the John Kerry of the 2004 election, as ‘flip-flop champion’ of 2005,” claimed Gilchrist.
“Now,” added Gilchrist, “the chickens are coming home to roost for ‘flip-flopping Honest John’ Campbell. In the last few days, our headquarters has been deluged with new supporters and volunteers, many of whom tell us that John Campbell has let them down. I want the voters of the 48th District, who are going to the polls this Tuesday, December 6, to know that my dedication to support and materially sustain the men and women on our first line of defense will never waver. I will never back off from my commitment to put a halt to the flood of illegal immigration and to secure our borders.”
PING...
You seem to be the only one to comment on the picture I posted. Did no one else get it?
All I see is a big red x.
Si, cuando you puedo levar mis tios, tias, primos y perros aqui tambien Sr Terminadaor?
Maybe their computer didn't. Some complained of red x.
Here's another picture of it. I'm including the quote I posted with the original picture.
I refuse to vote in another election until a candidate vows to close the borders, deport all illegals, and fine companies who employ such. Until then it's just more of the same.
The National Republican Congressional Committee has a representative out here assisting Campbell, giving advice and pouring money into his campaign. The Republican elites are scared to death that Gilchrist could win, and add one more voice for immigration reform in Congress. They want to kill the immigration insurgency in its cradle.
Medved, Hewitt, that whole Salem Radio crowd can be as despicable as the Democrats. Except for Terry Anderson, of course.
That's exactly what they will say, which tells you all you need to know about where the GOP leadership's loyalty lies. It's not with the average American.
Terry Anderson is the greatest.
He and Jim Gilchrist are old friends and fellow warriors.
Yep. Terry rules. I'm listening to him on the 'net right now.
http://www.theterryandersonshow.com/
The ultra-liberal San Francisco Chronicle is running a poll on the Minutemen. Are they a.) patriotic law-enforcers, or b.) dangerous vigalantes? Check in with your two-cents at http://www.sfgate.com
The Minutemen poll will be running for two more days. Go to "News and Features" on the left side of the screen, and you'll see "Polls." http://www.sfgate.com
I'm in Tulsa, formerly from Kalifornia, (Modesto).
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